Following on from the Elephant Parade two years ago, when over 250 brightly painted life-size elephants were displayed throughout London, multicoloured eggs have been appearing around the city as part of the Faberge Big Egg Hunt. Despite the apparent ‘commercialisation’ (I mean sponsorship), I was excited about the idea and longing to get my first sighting.
The problem is that the eggs simply aren’t big enough. They are not so much ‘public works of art’ (as the elephants were), but ‘works of art that happen to be displayed in public’. Maybe the criticism is unfair, and it reflects my own unrealistic expectations. But I went in expecting something as stunning and provocative and bold as the elephants.
They are about two and a half feet tall, mainly on a podium or even in a display case. Some of them lovely objects, but none quite huge enough for the full, glorious impactful ridiculousness of having gigantic coloured eggs scattered around London. How tall would they need to be, in my humble opinion?At least four feet, maybe five. Six would be getting a bit scary…
So yes, it’s a fun venture, a nice addition to London life, a pleasant distraction, and I’m sure it’s all for good cause. But it could have been so much more!
What do you think? Am I being churlish?
Bridges and Tangents 
I saw the one in Sloane Sqaure on Saturday. It was a very blessed moment. An indian child had both hands upon it and was tracing the patterns with complete unselfconscious wonder. Maybe something I would not have witnessed had they been far bigger, or on far higher plinths.
Something about this particular egg was very indian, which was co-incidental as I had just seen the film Trishna, and my mummy returns from 4 months in Goa this weekend.
As for the elephants did you hear this weeks story?
“Lawrence Anthony (the author of the elephant whisperer) passed away this weekend. The herd of elephants all came to his house to mourn his passing. It has been said for a long time time that elephants mourn their dead, what more proof do you need. This shows he was one of them. RIP Lawrence Anthony. Tonight at Thula Thula, the whole herd arrived at the main house, home to Lawrence and I. We had not seen them here for a very long time. Extraordinary proof of animal sensitivity and awareness that only a few human can perceive.”
What a wonderful idea! I think three four feet is the best size. Any smaller would be hard to see on a podium but any bigger would be a bit too awesome to young people looking at them if they’re in a display case.
By the way, no I don’t think you’re being churlish Father Stephen.